Star Wars superfans turn out in their droves for midnight screening

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They will finish watching the film in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Star Wars superfans have spoken of their excitement as they attended a midnight screening of The Last Jedi.

Hundreds of filmgoers, some dressed in costume, filed into the Leicester Square Odeon cinema late on Wednesday night to be among the first to watch the movie.

They were among the thousands expected to attend such events across the country – Odeon alone are hosting more than 500 midnight screenings of The Last Jedi over 117 of their cinemas in anticipation of its popularity among fans.

Matthew Johnston from Tottenham dressed as a First Order stormtrooper executioner for the screening (Yui Mok/PA)

John Baker, 21, told the Press Association: “I’m most excited for Luke Skywalker just because he seems to be so much more amazing than he is in the original trilogy.

“Mark Hamill just seems to have improved his acting ability and you can just see it.”

Matthew Johnston, who came dressed as a First Order executioner, said: “I’m just really looking forward to this one.

“I’ve been definitely avoiding spoilers because I think they give too much away, I just want to see what happens.”

The Last Jedi, released on Thursday in UK cinemas, has received early positive reviews, with some critics hailing it as the “best” Star Wars film to date.

At just over two and half hours long, the eighth episode in the saga is the longest Star Wars film ever.

It will find Rey nurturing her newly-found Jedi powers under Skywalker’s guidance before mounting tensions between the Resistance and the First Order see her collaborate with Leia, Finn and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) for a laser-fuelled adventure.